Match pack



L.. B. REUTER MATCH PACK FiledOCL. I5, 1939 @su EL l940.

Ammin/s.

Patented Dec. 31, 1940 PATENT OFFICE MATCH PACK Livingston B. Reuter, Cranston, R. I., assigner to Reuter-Thurston Company, Cranston, R. I., a

firm composed of Livin `tannin L. Thurston Application October 3,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a match pack and has for one of its objects to provide a match pack which will be so arranged that liability of ignition of the entire pack of matches when one is struck for ignition will be minimized.

Another object of the invention is to provide a match pack with a cover for protecting the matches which may be formed more simply and less expensively than match packs which are now in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cover for a match pack which will be formed of less material than a match pack cover which is now in use. p

A further object of the invention is to provide a match pack which will have a single fold of the cover stock rather than two folds of cover stock which is conventional in match packs in the market at the present time.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the match pack which is the subject of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Conventional match packs usually consist of heavy paper or cardboard strips of matches with the cover extending longitudinally of the length of the matches -about the same; that is, the cover is usually folded at least twice across the length of the matches and parts of the cover overlap each other for holding the cover in closed position. Also, usually the front cover is lifted for the purpose of withdrawing a match from the pack and striking it upon a friction surface which is provided whereby the matches will be acces- 40 sible if the cover is open. It sometimes occurs that a person will ignite the entire pack of matches in his hand or while lighting a cigar, cigarette, or pipe, particularly if he uses the same hand to hold the pack of matches as he does to lift the ignited match to the smoke which is to be lighted, or if both hands are used as a guard or shield for the wind. The hand then holding the match pack will be in close adjacency to the ignited match and the ignition of all the matches where the cover is open may easily occur; and in order to avoid this liability of accident or physical harm to the user, I have arranged a cover for a match pack which cannot be opened to expose the matches at any time and from which the matches must be withdrawn. Also, the cover is so argston B. Reuter and Ben- 1939, Serial No. 297,689

ranged that this friction surface for striking the match is accessible only when the cover is in a protecting position for the matches. B-y the arrangement which I provide less material is used for the cover which is a substantial item of saving where large quantities of match packs are made or used, and the following is a more detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished.

With reference to thel drawing, I 0 designates generally the pack of matches which consists of two cardboard sheets, of matches I I and I2 slitted to provide individual shank portions with heads I 3 at the upper end thereof.

It is desirable that such pack of matches be protected by a cover, and I have arranged such a cover in somewhat the form of a book. This cover consists of sheet cardboard or other similar sheet material I4 which is folded as at 'I5 on a line generally parallel to the longitudinal extent of the individual matches so as to provide a back section I6 and a front section Il' which form cover portions for the opposite surfaces of the match pack I0.

In assembling, it is merely necessary to place the folded sheet stock I l about the pack of matches as illustrated in Fig. 1 and apply staple I3 so that its legs I9 extend through the front cover l'I through the strips of matches Il and I2 and through the back cover I6 where the ends 20 are bent over toward each other for holding the staple in place and the cover and matches in assembled relation. This leaves the edge portions 2l free and an opening 2E between these edge portions which makes accessible the matches through this open edge. The back and front sections I6 and il are sufficiently flexible so that these sections may be spread apart to reach in between sections even for the innermost match which is desired. In this manner the matches always are covered and protected.

A friction surface 23 of some suitable abrasive may be applied to the outer surface of the front cover I'I in any suitable manner well-known in the art after assembly is made, or this might be placed on before the assembly if desired. I have shown friction surface on the front section., but it might be on both sections to make more readily accessible a striking portion of the device. d

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible.

I claim:

1. A match book comprising a pack of matches of paper or like material, a cover consisting of a sheet of cardboard or like material folded once with the line of fold parallel to the longitudinal extent of the matches and providing back and front sections over the opposite surfaces of the pack, and a staple having two prongs extending through the back and front sections of the cover and through the lower portion of the pack to hold the pack and cover xedly assembled.

2. A match book comprising a pack of matches of paper or like material, a cover consisting of a sheet of cardboard or like material folded once with the line of fold parallel to the longitudinal extent of the matches and providing back and front sections over the opposite surfaces of the pack, and a staple having two prongs extending through the back and front sections of the cover and through the lower portion of the pack to hold the pack and cover xedly assembled, with the edge of the cover opposite the fold being open to provide access to the pack between said sections.

3. A match book comprising a pack of matches of paper or like material, a cover consisting of a sheet of cardboard or like material folded once with the line of fold parallel to the longitudinal extent of the matches and providing back and front sections over the opposite surfaces of the pack, and a staple having two prongs extending through the back and front sections of the cover and through the lower portion of the pack to hold the pack 'and cover fixedly assembled, and a scratch surface provided on the outer surface of one cover section.

LIVINGSTON B. REUTER. 

